Proud to be a B Corp

ByKate Hughes

We are committed to valuing and supporting our Principles and to supporting other businesses making a difference in their own way - like B Corp.

The Ariel Group was recently recertified as a B Corp and we are thrilled to be a part of their community of socially conscious businesses! There are more than 1,400 Certified B Corporations in over 120 industries and 40 countries with 1 unifying goal – to redefine success in business. When we learned of B Corp and their Vision and goals, we were immediately struck by how aligned they were to The Ariel Group and our Vision and Principles.

B Lab is a nonprofit organization that serves a global movement of people using business as a force for good™. Its Vision is that one day all companies compete not only to be the best in the world, but the Best for the World® and as a result society will enjoy a more shared and durable prosperity.

B Corporations believe:

That we must be the change we seek in the world.

That all business ought to be conducted as if people and place mattered.

That, through their products, practices, and profits, businesses should aspire to do no harm and benefit all.

To do so requires that we act with the understanding that we are each dependent upon another and thus responsible for each other and future generations.

The Ariel Group Core Principles of Integrity, Generosity, Personal Growth, Creativity, Quality, Community, Prosperity, and Make a Difference guide our business strategies, policies, behaviors, and actions and are aimed fulfilling our Vision of creating a world where people can engage authentically and unlock their most generous selves. When we act with integrity and generosity and invest in our personal growth, we enable ourselves to fully express our creativity, perform the highest quality work and develop a deep and broad sense of community. Satisfying those principles leads to prosperity of all kinds, which in turn helps us make a difference in the world.

We believe we can make a difference for all of our communities. In addition to helping our corporate business partners strengthen their community through our transformational leadership curriculum, each year Ariel supports our local communities through service initiatives and giving programs (#ArielServes). We are enthusiastic about our roots in the arts and the theater and continue our support of that community, in particular. We are honored to have also served a number of fantastic non-profits who are doing amazing work in areas outside the arts. In the classroom, we deliver our programs and provide tools for non-profits to positively impact their business, people, and constituencies. We are humbled to have recently served with the UN, the Acumen Fund, Project Hope, Jericho Road, and Cradles 2 Crayons. In the field, we have given our time, expertise, and heavy labor. We have built a home with Habitat for Humanity, rehabbed a playground for Acres Family Daycare, cleaned up the Charles River with the CRWA, farmed for the homeless for Boston Friends of the Homeless, and have coached the underserved in many places. We have led charitable drives and campaigns, donated in-kind goods and services, and made financial donations to organizations near and dear to us, both as a company and on behalf of others.

We are committed to valuing and supporting our Principles and to supporting other businesses making a difference in their own way - like B Corp. The Ariel Group went through a rigorous assessment, which speaks to the incredible integrity of this organization. The assessment analyzed multiple components of our business including; the impact of our business model; governance and transparency; people and their development, benefits, and comp; Community; and Environment. Then they came for a visit and looked at our offices and talked to our employees. Only those meeting the high bar set on the assessment and onsite visit will go onto become certified. We are happy to have cleared that bar both times. While we did exceedingly well, we also discovered many areas where we could do better. This was valuable feedback and we are thankful to have it.

The Ariel Group is proud to be a Certified B Corp and we are excited to join hands in an effort to make a difference. With 2016 just beginning, the opportunities are bountiful! We are enthusiastic about all the ways we can support and serve our clients, local communities, B Corp and others doing great work! #ArielServes